Why is racing overflowing with bitterness and negativity?

Has social media and twitter not just exacerbated, amplified and made abundantly clear what was always there, Simon?
 
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Exactly. The bile associated with the Blogger chap was excessive but also sort of understandable as he's a massive fraud.
 
The thread title kind of relates to this forum lately
People throwing ridiculous insults at others that there never going to meet in a month of Sunday's through the medium of a keyboard/iPhone.
I much prefer talking about the horses.
 
I don't agree with any of Simon's blog.

He is basically asking us to accept mediocrity unchallenged, whether it be the RP or the Blogger.

It poses the question about what the moaners have done to improve the Racing Post, which is faintly ridiculous, given the only people with any control over content, price and editorial-bent, are those at the RP themselves.

The correct question to ask in this circumstance is 'What have the Racing Post done to respond to the criticisms that have been levelled at it?". The answer, of course, is bugger-all, and it's therefore little surprise that people vent in the only way they know how.

As for the Blogger, being enthusiastic about Racing isn't enough to warrant a spread in the industry-paper, but sh*it begets sh*it, and it's really no surprise that there is something of a love-in going on between the pair. Both are lowest-common-denominator imposters, and it absolutely fair game to call them out on it.

It's also worth pointing out that if all you do is blab rubbish like "This can't get beat!" then 140-characters is basically all you need to get your message across. It should be self-evident that the Twitter medium is not geared-up to support weighty, intellectual arguments for-and-against - bickering is basically built into the format, hence it should be no surprise to anyone, when tit-for-tat arguments break-out, and hardly, therefore, a good barometer of positivity/negativity in racing.

The analogy of Twitter being full of bar-room bullies looking for any excuse for a fight, is all wrong imo. For me, it's more like X-Factor, where the discerning will see right through the rubbish, but where there are sufficient goons out there, to put that rubbish straight in at Number 1.

That's the way of the world these days, but the discerning should never feel compelled to follow the herd, just because it's popular or zeitgiest. That isn't being negative - it's exercising taste and judgment, which is a completely different thing.
 
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Simon Nott said:
I've had my say so maybe I'm in that number too!

http://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/simon-nott-twit-to-woo-how-angry-are-you/
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Blogger is a liar and a fraud. The idea that he is some sort of second coming for Racing is absurd. He is a degenerate gambler. Constantly putting up "tips" which idiots follow and lose plenty on, and then living on the bargain bins of supermarkets. His ongoing comments on females at racing show more of his real nature and the quicker he disappears from racing the better. BTW he's the same with football as well...if i was unlucky enough to stand next to him at an Arsenal game there is every chance i'd end up laying in to his crater riddled made up face.

The RP on the other hand is basically just a comic. Edited by a joker. I've not purchased the paper version for over 5 years.

Racing appears to be determined to promote itself to the ever growing clowns that are just out for the beer and a sing along with a Radio 1 DJ after racing. But its all great bants lads eh.... Oi Oi!! fuckwits.
 
I've been meaning to write the piece for a while, it's often ex-course bookies who then turn on the existing ones, people who used to write for publications but now don't turning on them, and so it goes on, with the 'I'll take my ball away' attitude. A lot of it is self-serving from people who want to be 'celebrities' in the racing game, if there is such a thing. The Blogger is really an aside, I was quite taken back by the vitriol and bile that came at him after the Racing Post piece, mostly from people that would have jumped at the chance then milked the spot in the limelight for all it was worth, had they been asked, but hadn't which is why they were really so angry. To put it into context I'm not a fan of Russel Brand but I don't follow him on twitter and slag him off at every opportunity I just let him get on with it and ignore him.
 
Simon Nott said:
To put it into context I'm not a fan of Russel Brand but I don't follow him on twitter and slag him off at every opportunity I just let him get on with it and ignore him.
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The problem with the blogger is if you are active on Twitter in the racing community you can't not come across him, he's always being retweeted etc.
 
There is a caring side to racing also which is ignored as it doenst generate income like ratings and betting turnover

Lots off small yards and people with big dreams

Plenty of volunteers at racetracks who make things happen on the big day and communities who rally around and support their local track

There was a really great 4 part documentary which followed 4 Irish NH festivals and the lesser lights behind the scenes for each festival - I saw it on Setanta but am sure it has been shown elsewhere
 
On a related point had anyone actually used Star Sports?

Do they lay a decent bet?
Do they close winners?
Are they financially secure?
How early do they price races?
 
granger said:
There is a caring side to racing also which is ignored as it doenst generate income like ratings and betting turnover

Lots off small yards and people with big dreams

Plenty of volunteers at racetracks who make things happen on the big day and communities who rally around and support their local track

There was a really great 4 part documentary which followed 4 Irish NH festivals and the lesser lights behind the scenes for each festival - I saw it on Setanta but am sure it has been shown elsewhere
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A friend has two horses in training; Brian Hughes' agent rang for the ride on one of them a while back as he happened to be at the same meeting and not have a ride in that race.
After the race, he gave my friend loads of feedback and didn't pull any punches, in all honesty, but my friend and his father ( unpaid stable lad) appreciated everything he said. He also said he would ring my friend after finding a suitable race for the mare which he did a few days later. He also rang after their other runner had raced recently and asked about the race and so on; said he would find a race for him, which he has, and ride him if my friend wanted him. Since then he has rang several times to ask how things are going with both of them. He rides one of them tomorrow at Hexham. I say bless him for taking the time and interest to help. He doesn't have to at all as he's not struggling for rides.
 
Digger said:
Brian Hughes is a prince of a man. Great jockey and always straight with owners.
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After the first ride on their mare, Tony ( the Dad) told me he had never seen Rich ( the son/trainer) struck dumb after Brian gave his opinion as he was coming in. The word 'eejit', amongst other shorter words, was used quite extensively when talking about a piece of head gear! They love him!
 
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